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He announced the total at the Town Council's AGM this week - when, in an emotional speech, he admitted the effort involved had taken its toll.

At one point last autumn, when he was delivering hundreds of leaflets a day to promote the Otley Snowman Trail, he was forced to take a break due to a knee injury.

Cllr Francis overcame that hurdle, though, and others to - by holding everything from a Bulgarian evening to a Retro Weekend - raise a grand total of £31,026.

He said: "Life is like a rollercoaster but this time the highs were very high and the lows, very low.

"Even though I am bruised and battered I think it has been a great success."

He also offered effusive thanks to council office staff, his team of volunteers and helpers, his son and Consort, Callum and his wife, Diane.

The money will be shared between the 15 groups or projects that the appeal supported.

They were: Children's Home in Belovo; Library in Menenkyovo; Library in Gambia; Bore Holes in Zambia; Natureland Seal Sanctuary; Hug on a Tray; Otley Parish Church Bells; Otley Navvies Memorial; St Gemma's, Wheatfields Sue Ryder, Bluebell Wood, Forget Me Not and Martin House hospices; Hang on to a Dream; and the Avro Memorial.

Representatives from some of the beneficiaries attended the meeting on Monday, May 14, to accept their portion and express their gratitude.

Ipsoregulated

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